Little Mishap

Turns out that I did not visit Chanthaburi. I visited kanchanaburi. Sounds all the same to me lol

Chantaburi:

So a few of us decided to make a day trip down to chantaburi last weekend. What started as a daytrip turned into a weekend trip. But I'm so glad I made the decision to stay longer. The trip actually started dreadfully. Getting up at 8 in the morning after a long night out is never fun. But when your bus decides to break down in the middle of the highway, it doesn't help. But the more time that past the more fun I had. When we arrived I found that it was too late to only stay the day and do the things I wanted to get done. Elephant trekking was a blast, although a little pricy (500 baht). We deided to check out the town that night and ended up in a club with a live thai band. It was odd to see everyone so into the band while we had no idea what they were saying and had no idea who they were. We might have been the only foreighners there, judging by all the looks we got haha. We decided to go back to our hotel and get a good nights rest for the following day. We made the 1 hour van ride to the national park. Unfortuantely many of us had forgotten our student id's so we had to pay the foreighner price of 200 baht instead of 40 (still very much worth it). The hike was long but had many amazing spots to rest on the way. I found myself exploring as much as I could, climbing up the sides of waterfalls, squeezing through cave crevesses, and finding spots off of the beaten path. There were 7 main waterfalls, each with there own individual beauty. All in all this was an amazing trip and one that should not be missed if you ever go to thailand.

Here is my video documenting my trip:

JJ Market

So the other day a couple of us decided to go to JJ market. This is one of the largest and cheapest markets in bangkok. We were told you can find just about anything there. We took the bus to victory monument and then the sky train to Mo Chit. We stopped for some mango and sticky rice and then some noodles. After giving curry spice another go I've decided that I definitely don't like it. We wondered through the tunnels and mazes of JJ finding sectionns of clothes, shoes, animals, and some really good sculpture art and paintings. I'm glad I went with a large group because it would have been really easy to get lost. I wished I had got more footage but mostly what I caught was emily freaking out about the riddiculously cute puppies and bunnies. It was a pretty cool day overall. Check out the video:

BBoy Cypher in Bangkok.....

So the other night we were all on khao san road and out of no where a bboy cypher broak out. For those that don't know Bboys are breakdancers and cyphers are the circles they dance in. It was crazy seeing everyone doing crazy things on the street. Some where even barefoot. I don't know how they didn't rip up their bodies. In the video I get kind mad, explaining that bboying is more than just power. For those that don't know, power or power moves, are the really big athletic gymnastics moves. Those that only stick to these are called power heads. It is my solid bboy philosophy that you need power moves and you need style, style meaning musicality, footwork, toprock, and generally being on beat. With the exception of me only the last bboy really had this. You lose breaking as a dance form when all you do is flips and crazy shit. You may win a crowd over but It becomes gymnatics. That being said these guys were awesome and the second guy even burned me with his crazy flexibility after my spider ( the move were I put my legs over my shoulders).

heres the video......

Khao San Road, Orientation, and Ko Chang, and first day of classes!

Khao San Road:

Khao San Road is perhaps one of the most livliest neighborhoods I've ever been. If you want to have an experience like in the hangover two you go here. In fact most of it was filmed there.  You'll find things that here that you wont see or wont want to see anywhere else: Carts selling fried bugs, copious amounts of prostitution, a large concentration of partying tourists, People offering you to see a ping pong show (I'll let you figure that one out). There was certainly no shortage of alcohol. Everywhere you went someone would try to sell you something. There were even little thai boys and girls offering  to bet 20 baht for a thumb wrestling war. I wouldn't reccomend the bet though, they are abnormally good. All in all everyone should experience here at least once, if only once.

Orientation:

Orientation was decent. We learned a lot about the rules of mahidol and the procedures. There was paperwork to be filled out. However on the bright side I met a lot of new people from all over the world: germany, france, mexico, thailand, america, canada. It was cool to see so many people in the same boat I was. I bought my official Mahidol belt buckle and decided to get another uniform in bangkok rather than the school because of the quality. We learned some basic thai wich for the most part I already knew.

Ko Chang:

On a last minute decision a couple of people decided to visit an island for the rest of our weekend. I am sooooo glad I made the right choice. This weekend was the best few days I've had in thailand thus far. The beaches and sorounding area were gorgeous. The Parties and clubs were sweet. The restaurants were peacfull. It truly did feel like the hangover two when we lost meirko. Turns out he found a thai girl to spend the night with. Another friend ended up passing out in the middle of ocean and two thais had to drag him out lol. The day was perfect. We sat around the beach soaking up the sun and swiming in the riddiculously warm watter. Ohh ya and by the way I got a tatoo! I got it done with a single bamboo needle instead of the gun. It's mai pen rai down my shoulder wich is the common thai saying equivilent to accuna mattata. It is used to resolve disputes and problmes and means no worries.

First Day of classes:

So I had my first day of classes today. It feels so good to finally have a routine. Mainly so I wont spend so much money! Today I had intro to thai language and culture and I had Advanced oral communication. The intro class was cool. I new a ton of people in the class already. We learned a lot of cool new stuff: how to ask and say what you name is, how to ask and tell what you do, how to explain and ask where your from. Advanced oral communication was interesting considering everyone else in the class was thai. The only native english speakers were me and the teacher. Although I have a leg up in this sense it may be more difficult to get around the class concepts becuase I didnt take the prerequisite class. We had to make and present 3 minute speach about something or someone that impacted our lives greatly.

First Impressions and the Bridging Cultures Program:

So it was not but 4 days ago when I was sitting stateside contemplating my journey ahead, and yet it seems like I've been here for weeks (in a good way). The only thing that wasn't enjoyable was my flight. I started to get a cold the day before and it made the three 6 and a half hour flights to bangkok pretty miserable. As I looked over a mountain range, what I think was the alps, I waited in apprehension wondering what I was in for. If i was not apprehensive during the flight I certainly was during the 12 hours I had to wait in BKK airport for my pickup to arrive. It was here that I first realized how different a world I was in. I struggled with what would be the simplest of tasks back home; finding a bathroom, figuring out a way to call home, brushing my teeth with bottled water, etc. Although somewhat annoying it gave me what I have been searching for. Something truly different from what I know. I ate my first meal in not a thai resturaunt but a japenese one. I pointed at the pictures on the menu and the waitress brought over some delicous dumplings and a bowl of deep fried shrimp noodles, beef broth, and some unmistakable yet mysterious piece of fish.

After a long day of waiting around, eating, getting massaged, and doing shopping errands I by chance met some globalinks asialearn students a few hours early, andrew and whit. We talked and it felt good to know that I was no longer alone. We grabbed a beer and before you know it our resident coordinator, Arron, was there to pick us up. The first few things I noticed about bangkok was the heat, the smells, and its density. we slowly crawled through traffic towards salaya as arron started to give us the basics of what our time would be like in thailand. We stayed in the schools hospitality and hotel management training center hotel for the first night. The showers are electrically heated through a box and at certain points give a burst of pressure with reduced heat. We got up very early in the next morning. We made a stop at a Buddhist temple. Although I enjoyed the feeling very much it made me slightly uncomfortable about how western and touristy it made me feel. Things were real here. People were praying being blessed by monks, worshiping the giant gold buddah statue. While I tried to participate I couldnt help but feel odd taking pictures and videos.

                                

We soon departed agin to one of the ancient former capitols, a place called uthai. Before we had our scheduled tour, arron recommended some street vendor food. Although I did not indulge in soda from a plastic bag I did try deep fried bannana pancake (cant remember the thai name). It was the most delicious thing I had had yet. 

                                         

                                

 As we toured the grounds I could feel the energy and serrenity emminating from everywhere I went. I saw one of the most famous buddahs in thailand here

                                

Our journey continued to a retired elephant conservatory. I had a lot of mixed feelings about the place. On one hand I got to see some of the most beautiful creatures in the world. Such gentle giants. However I wondered if this place was truly a sanctuary or more of a tourist attraction. I hope the elephants were treated well.

        here is my trip to the elephant conservatory:

                                      

Another 3 hour bus ride and we were at our final destination for the next few days. The name of the rural town in Issan (northeast thailand) evades me. The hotel was probably the most rundown Ive ever been in. But by rural Thailand's standards it was fairly good. The walls were bright pink. There was no divider between the toilette and the shower, just one open bathroom (a common setup in thailand). Me and my roomate took two cold showers before realizing there was a power switch outside of the bathroom for the hot water.

The next day we had our first official information session. It wasn't to bad. Just important information given. After we went to another set of ruins. Although the tour guide had an almost incomprehensible accent I thoroughly enjoyed myself, especially when allowed to break from the group. I found an a beautiful tree blooming orange flowers. eventually I found a great meditation spot where I spent the remainder of my time until one of the guides told me everyone was leaving.

                                       

We did some shopping and I bartered my first souveneer, a hand painted small tapestry of the Buddha. The merchant started at 900 baht and I brought him down to 500 ( about 17 dollars US). I started to realize that i was spending more than i wanted to not because everything was expensive but quite the opposite. Its hard to turn down such great deals. I paid 300 baht (about 10 dollars) for a 45 minute massage.

I came across a man playing and selling an instrument, a saw u, he was showing people how to play so I joined in. It was much more difficult than I had imagined.

At night I was taught how to make to traditional thai dishes from a wonderful cook who's establishment we've been eating ate for the last few days.

                                     

As our last night approached in Issan we got some free time so I spent it with others roaming the market. I decided to be adventures and ate 1 fried cricket and 1 fried beetle. It may sound cliche but it actually tasted like chicken (minus the texture). We all got together that night at the local bar and had drinks. It's amazing how great of a group we have.

We made a few stops on our way back. First we stopped at a supper rural area where the local trade market ofr hundreds of years has revolved around pottery due to the soil. We saw a man shaping and forming delicate structures with ease. It was unfortunate hearing he only got paid about 12 baht for every vase he produced (sold at retail anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand). When I asked him if he enjoyed his work he said he did. I got a chance to try it out and I enjoyed myself

                                 

We made our last stop before making the long journey back to salaya at the orphanage. This was perhaps the most emotionally confusing part in my journey thus far. We learned that the thai women who started the orphanage took in abandoned kids (usually as result of rape, death of parents, or parents to old/young to take care of). She told some pretty gruesome stories of the hardships of these kids. I wanted to be happy with them. I wanted to play with them but it felt strange knowing that my appearance ultimately did not change thier unfortunate circumstances. The best I could do was entertain them with my camera an iPod, which they thoroughly enjoyed. I left feeling incomplete but I'm truly grateful to have had the experience.

                                  

I know sit in my home for the next 3 months, my dorm, abnormally plain compare to the rest of my trip thus far, a town house of sorts, with a roomate named nick who i met with BCP. I have had such a great first few days. I've seen more eaten more and experienced more than I could imagine. I yet again I look to the future to all the wonderful things that await.